December 18, 2022 : 4th Sunday of Advent

Today’s antiphon derives from the Gospel:

Matthew 1:21

he will save his people from their sins

and Matthew 1:23

“and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means “God is with us.”

In Communion we can recognize that God is truly among us and ask him to come and save us from our sins.

The Antiphonal, Antiphonary and Graduale Romanum all suggest Ps 19:2-7 for the psalm verses. We have provided the whole of Ps 19.

The melody of the antiphon reproduces the opening two phrases of the hymn tune DIVINUM MYSTERIUM (“Of the Father’s love begotten”) but in the original chant rhythm rather than the later triple time version, and omitting one note. The antiphon can be sung in unison, or as a 2-, 3- or 6-part round, or even as a multi-part round with from 7 to 12 parts! The swirling effect generated by 12 parts might suggest the Lord coming in power “with healing in his wings”.

A demo recording from the CD Where Two or Three Are Gathered will be found here.